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As unusual as it sounds, wallpaper isn’t just for walls; you can also apply it to wood, vinyl and linoleum floors. Wallpaper is not the best idea for high-traffic floors, but it can add an interesting touch to a bedroom, home office or powder room. Kitchens and primary bathrooms are too humid. Before installing the wallpaper, you’ll need to prepare the floor. Fill imperfections with wood filler, or use two-part automotive repair compound for a vinyl or linoleum floor. Sand the floor until it’s smooth, and remove all traces of sanding dust with a vacuum and a damp sponge.

1

Measure the floor along the wall that is farthest away from the exit, where you will lay the first row of wallpaper.

2

Unroll the wallpaper, measure it to the length you need for the first row plus approximately 6 inches, and cut the paper straight across with scissors. Lay the first row of wallpaper on the floor in the position where it will go, leaving an equal amount of excess on each end. This is a test-fit, so don't wet the wallpaper yet.

3

Cut another strip of wallpaper and place it on the floor beside the first. Continue this way until the floor is covered.

4

Adjust the strips on the floor to align the patterns along the seams, if necessary. Once you are satisfied with the layout, stack the strips in order and move them to another work area. The first strip of wallpaper should be on top of the stack, and the last strip should be on the bottom.

5

Fill a wallpaper water basin or bathtub with approximately 4 inches of lukewarm water. Roll up the first strip of wallpaper with the pasted side facing out and place it into the water. Grasp the end of rolled wallpaper strip and slowly pull the strip out of the water, unrolling it as you pull. The adhesive on the back side of strip should be wet.

6

Lay the wet strip of wallpaper on the floor or a large table in your work area with the adhesive side facing up. Fold the left half of the paper over onto itself toward the middle of the strip, then fold the right half over the same way to the middle of the strip. This is called booking, and it helps the adhesive soften and thicken without drying out. Let the booked strip rest for approximately 10 minutes.

7

Move the booked strip of wallpaper to the room where you will install it. Unfold one half of the strip, exposing the adhesive.

8

Turn the strip over and lay it on the floor, adhesive side down. Align the edge of the strip with the wall and brush the surface lightly with a wallpaper brush. Unfold the other half of the paper and smooth it into position along the wall. Installing half of the strip before unfolding and installing the other half makes the wallpaper easier to manage and reduces the chance of tearing and wrinkling.

9

Soak and book the next strip, then apply it to the floor beside the first strip. Slide the wallpaper as needed to align the patterns along the edges.

10

Press the seam between the two strips of wallpaper with a wallpaper seam roller, then brush the surface with a wallpaper brush. Wipe both wallpaper strips with a soft sponge dampened with water. Repeat the soaking, booking and application steps until the floor is covered with wallpaper.

11

Let the floor dry overnight, then trim off the excess paper around the room with a utility knife.

12

Open a can of oil- or water-based polyurethane and stir it with a paint stir stick. Water-based polyurethane is clear, dries within a few hours and is best used with uncoated paper, or paper without vinyl. Oil-based polyurethane works on vinyl or uncoated paper; it adds a golden hue, can take up to 24 hours to dry and is much more durable than water-based polyurethane.

13

Fill a paint pan with polyurethane. Fasten a lambswool floor finishing pad to a floor finish paddle with a long handle.

14

Dip the pad into the polyurethane, and apply it to the floor with long, even strokes. Let the floor dry for approximately four hours if you are using water-based polyurethane, or overnight for oil-based.

15

Apply at least four more coats of polyurethane, letting each coat dry before applying the next. Let the floor cure for 48 hours after the last polyurethane application before moving furniture into the room.

Things You Will Need

Measuring tape

Scissors

Wallpaper basin (optional)

Wallpaper brush

Wallpaper seam roller

Soft sponge

Polyurethane, oil- or water-based

Paint stir stick

Paint pan

Lambswool applicator pad

Floor finish paddle with long handle

Tips

Professional paper hangers usually trim paper while it is wet. But wet paper is easy to tear, so it’s better for a novice to wait until it is dry.

If any of the excess paper sticks to the baseboards, you can remove it with a damp sponge.

About the Author

Carole Oldroyd, a writer based in East Tennessee, has authored numerous DIY home improvement, Human Resources, HR and Law articles. In addition to holding a degree in paralegal studies, she has more than 10 years of experience renovating newer homes and restoring historic property.